Martinsburg daily gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1887-1887, 1887-05-25
THE CHARGE Ar cHlcKAMAuoA.
a Statement OF What the Soldiers DID
Tor rhcmseIyeH without ORDERS.

for Themselves without Orders.
One Of the splendid battles Of the war
was that Of Chattanooga IN The Century
Gen. Fullerton tells the story Of the firing
Of the signal guns to take the rifle pits at
the base Of the ridge occupied by Bragg,
and the rush Of 20, 600 men. The general
says: The enemy were thrown into con-
fsssion and took precipitate flight up the
ridge n He odds: Many prisoners. and q
large number Of small arms were cap
tured." And now follows clear state
nlent Of what the soldiers did for them
selves-a most instructive and brilliant
passage: ri
The order Of the commanding general
had now been fully and most successfully
carried ont. But it did not 60 far enough
to satisfy these brave men, who thought
the time had come to finish the battle OF
Chickamauga. There was q halt Of but
few minutes, to take breath and to re-
form the lines; then, with sudden Inn
pulse, all started up the side of the ridge.
Not commanding officer had given the
orCcr to advance The men who carried
the nsuskets had taken the matter into
their own hands, had moved Of their own
accord. Officers, catching their spirit;
first followed, then led. There was no
Thought Of protecting TANKS, though the
enemy's line could be seen stretching be-
yond on either side; there was no thought
Of support or reserves.
AS soon as this movement was seen
from Orchard Knob Grant quickly turned
to Thomas, who stood by his side, and
heard him angrily say: Thomas, who or
sierca those men up the ridge?' Thomas
rc,siicl in his ne ual slow, quiet manner:
i Cont know; did not. Then, address
ing Gen Gordon Granger, he said Did
ron order them up, Granger No. said
Granger; they started up without orders
Wien those fellows get started all he'll
crn'tstop them Gen. Grant said some
thing to the effect that somebody would
SITTER IL it did not turn ont well, and then
t;ssning round, stoically watched tho
ridge. He gave no further orders.
AS soon as Granger had replied to
Tlolaas he turned to me, his chief of
stsss, end said: Ride at once to Wood and
f.sc.ito Sheridan and ask them If they or
t-ercs. their men up the ridge, and tell
t.lssi, IL they can take it, to push ahead.
AZ; was mounting Granger added: 1T is
hot over there, and yon may not get
Trough, shall send Capt. Avery to
Sise vi,lan, and other officers after both of
You. AS fast as my horse could carry
Che i.afssage. i didn't order them up, ;
sssss Weed; they started up ON their own
ssecs AIT, and they are going up, too Tell
CO. .iaser, il we are supported, we win take
I'D hold the ridgep AS soon as reached
Cen Wood, Capt. Avery got to Gen.
ssise ritiGn and delivered his message. i
s..dtl'ts order them up, said Sheridan,
slliit We IRE going to take the ridge He
tsicsl asked Avery for his flask and waved
II ;lSi group Of Confederate officers stand
iass just in front Of Bragg's headquarters
with tie salutation, Here's at your At
sficc two gllns-the Lady Breckenridge
End the Lady Buckner-in front of
I;ragg's headquarters were fired at Sheri-
dan and the group Of officers about him.
One shell struck 50 near as to throw dirt
over Sheridan and Avery. All, said the
general, that is ungenerous; shall take
close guns for that, and he did, and a
good many more. =